Japanese Maple plant named ‘Taylor’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Japanese Maple plant named ‘Taylor’, characterized by its upright plant habit; brownish red-colored stems; and green and pink bi-colored leaves.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Acer palmatum cultivarTaylor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of JapaneseMaple plant, botanically known as Acer palmatum, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name Taylor.

The Japanese Maple originated from a cross-pollination during the springof 1996 in Boskoop, The Netherlands of two unknown selections of Acerpalmatum, not patented. The new Japanese Maple was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of thestated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Boskoop, TheNetherlands during the summer of 1998.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by grafting at Boskoop, TheNetherlands since 1998, has shown that the unique features of this newJapanese Maple are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Taylor have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light level without,however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Taylor’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Taylor’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofJapanese Maple:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit.    -   2. Brownish red-colored stems.    -   3. Green and pink bi-colored leaves.

Plants of the new Japanese Maple can be compared to the Japanese Maplecultivar Beni Shichi Henge. Plants of the new Japanese Maple and thecultivar Beni Shichi Henge differ in leaf and stem coloration as plantsof the cultivar Beni Shichi Henge do not have orange pink-coloreddeveloping leaves and have green-colored stems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which more accurately describe the actualcolors of the new Japanese Maple.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical plant of ‘Taylor’.

The photograph at the center of the sheet is a close-up view of typicaldeveloping leaves of ‘Taylor’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typicalfully expanded leaves of ‘Taylor’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurementsdescribe plants grown in Boskoop, The Netherlands, in an outdoor nurseryand under commercial production practices in September. Plants weregrown in 9-cm containers and were about two months old when thephotographs and description were taken. During the production of theplants, day temperatures ranged from 14 to 32° C. and night temperaturesranged from about 10 to 20° C. In the following description, colorreferences are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart,2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Acer palmatum cultivar Taylor.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed parent.—Unknown selection of Acer palmatum,            not patented.        -   Male, or pollen parent.—Unknown selection of Acer palmatum,            not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By grafting.        -   Time to initiate new growth.—About three weeks after            grafting, new growth is observed.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form/habit.—Upright deciduous tree; moderately            vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 25 cm.        -   Plant width (spread).—About 13 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Number per plant: About six.            Length: About 4 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Internode length:            About 4.8 cm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Strength: Strong.            Color: 177A to 178A.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Opposite, simple. Leaflet            length: About 5.5 cm. Leaflet width: About 5.2 cm. Shape:            Palmate, five-parted. Apex: Acute. Base: Reniform to            hastate. Margin: Irregularly biserrate. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Venation pattern: Palmate.            Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Center, 143B to            143C; towards the margins, 48A to 48B to 51C. Venation, 150D            to 157A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Center, 143C;            towards the margins, 39B. Venation, 144D. Fully expanded            leaves, upper surface: Center, 137A; towards the margins,            38A to 38B to 39C; towards the leaf base, 157A to 157B.            Venation, 138B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface:            Center, 137A to 137B; towards the margins, 38B to 39C;            towards the leaf base, 157A to 157B. Venation, 143A.            Petiole: Length: About 2.1 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper surface: 175B to 175C; towards the leaf, 144B. Color,            upper surface: 144A, slightly overlain with N170B.-   Flower description: Flower development has not been observed on    plants of the new Japanese Maple.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Japanese Maple have not    been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Japanese    Maple.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Japanese Maple have been    observed to tolerate temperatures from −10 to 35° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Japanese Maple plant named ‘Taylor’,as illustrated and described.